Eye bid to become permanent

An application for permanent planning permission for the London Eye is being submitted today to Lambeth council.

The 450ft-high wheel has, in less than two years, become the UK's top earning visitor attraction and the second in Europe after EuroDisney. It has attracted seven million visitors and become a symbol for London worldwide - yet it has only three years left on its original planning permit.

The success of the Eye, which has launched millions of postcards, has surprised even its backers. It is estimated the Eye accounts for a remarkable 1.5 per cent of London's total earnings from tourism.

Apart from transforming the London skyline, it has played an important economic role in regenerating the South Bank. Thanks to the Eye, 31 new businesses have opened locally, creating more than 370 jobs.

The Eye has been important in maintaining tourism in the face of foot-and-mouth disease and the terrorist attacks on the US. Despite these hindrances, it continues to attract record visitor numbers.

Built without a penny of public money, the £75 million project has won more than 20 awards for national and international tourism, outstanding architectural quality and engineering achievement. A survey by Research & Marketing Limited showed 85 per cent of Londoners, and 87 per cent of the local community, wanted it to stay.

"There is now clear support from Londoners, visitors and tourists for the Eye becoming a permanent fixture," said David Marks, founding director of Marks Barfield Architects, who with his wife Julia turned the idea into reality with the expertise of hundreds of people from five European countries.

Mr Marks and Ms Barfield, who own a third of the Eye, said that permanent planning permission would release investment for the improvement of the attraction and local facilities, and help other businesses plan for the future. Improvements will include a larger ticket hall, better public facilities, tackling illegal traders, the development of Jubilee Gardens, and a community trust to benefit a variety of local projects and charities.

Lambeth council has already asked local people and businesses about the Eye's future as part of its Unitary Development Plan consultation.

The Eye was initially granted temporary planning permission for five years. The application has been made now because the planning process can often take several years.

The application will be considered by Lambeth's planning committee following consultation. The committee's recommendations will then be passed to planning ministers for the final decision, probably next summer.

A public exhibition is to be held in the London Eye's offices beginning 7 January from 10am to 6pm.